Christmas Markets on the Danube

December 4 - December 14, 2026
11 Days / 10 Nights

Tour Overview

Cruise along the Danube River all the way from Budapest to Nuremberg aboard the regal AmaVerde cruise ship. Visit six cities all rich with historic charm and alight with holiday decor and amazing Christmas Markets.

Tour Departs From

Oklahoma City
Wichita
Tulsa

Package Includes

Great Market Hall
Budapest’s Városliget
St Stephen cathedral
Budapest’s Városliget
Christmas Markets
Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs
Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market
Melk Abbey
Old Town Christmas market
MainDanube Canal to Nuremberg
Imperial Castle
Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt

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Tour days are long and move at a more vigorous pace. Scheduled activities may require physical effort and require passengers to be in good shape. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces.

Price

10599
Single

8349
Double

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Terms & Conditions

Cancellation Policy E
$500 Non-Refundable Deposit Per Person | Rates Per Person
Final Payment Due 135 days before departure
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Travel Insurance
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Itinerary

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Day 1 // Overnight Flight

Board your overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary where your European adventure begins!

Day 2 // Budapest, Hungary

We arrive in Budapest and will spend time exploring the great city with time at the Great Market Hall and lunch with a demonstration of the strudel making process. This afternoon will include a visit to St Stephen cathedral before we settle into our hotel for a 2 night stay.

Day 3 // Budapest, Hungary

The group will travel to Budapest's Városliget (City Park) to visit the House of Music Hungary, a unique architectural landmark, where they will enjoy an immersive musical experience including an interactive exhibit, a Sound Dome presentation, and an exclusive mini-concert. The program concludes with lunch in the park. This afternoon is yours to explore the city or the optional experience of a Turkish bath house at the Szechenyi Thermal Bath.

Day 4 // Budapest, Hungary

This morning will include a walking tour of the Jewish quarter and a visit to Dohany synagogue before we board the elegant river cruise ship AmaVerde in Budapest for your Iconic Christmas Markets cruise. While on board, enjoy a choice of daily shore excursions, each guided by an English-speaking guide at no additional cost.

Day 5 // Budapest, Hungary

Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Buda Castle quarter in Castle Hill and Heroes' Square, Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Today you have the opportunity to visit the Buda (hilly) side of the Danube River. On your tour, follow your guide through the city's Castle District, where you will marvel at the fairytale turrets of Fisherman's Bastion, gaze upon the breathtaking panorama below and see Matthias Church, renowned for its striking tower and colorful mosaic roof. You will also visit the city's famed Christmas Markets. Or, for a more active tour, hike to Budapest's Castle Hill.

Day 6 // Vienna, Austria

The “City of Waltzes” offers gems just waiting to be discovered. Join a tour showcasing its regal splendors, such as the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs before concluding in Vienna's historic city center. Afterwards, you'll visit the Christmas Markets where you can purchase delightful delicacies and handmade gifts. If you prefer a more active adventure, then join a guided bike along the Danube River. In the afternoon, visit Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market and its spectacular festive atmosphere. Cap the day off at the beautifully decorated Town Hall (Rathaus), Vienna's largest Christmas Market.

Day 7 // Melk, Austria

High on a rocky outcrop lies the Melk Abbey, one of Europe's most revered Baroque monasteries. Visit this magnificent and storied abbey, which now houses a museum chronicling its history and a famous library with countless medieval manuscripts. Alternatively, go on a guided bike ride around Melk. During the evening, enjoy a scenic cruise through the Strudengau Valley.

Day 8 // Passau, Germany

Join a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen's. Go in search of Bavarian style crafts at the Christmas Market. Or, for the active adventurer, join a guided bike tour along the Danube. Alternatively, you can travel through the serene Austrian Alps to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. Your fullday excursion in Salzburg includes a walking tour of the UNESCOdesignated Old Town, its magnificent cathedral, and its Christmas Markets.

Day 9 // Regensburg, Germany

Regensburg is one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join a guided walking tour showcasing the city's architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria, before visiting the Old Town Christmas market. As an alternate option, sample some of Bavaria's specialties -beer, sausage and pretzels. Or bike to the base of Walhalla where there is a neoclassical white marble temple inspired by the Parthenon in Athens. For those in a more festive mood, spend the afternoon at Bavaria's most beautiful and romantic Christmas markets at Thurn and Taxis, where you can watch artisans make their unique arts and crafts.

Day 10 // Nuremberg, Germany

Enjoy a scenic morning cruise as the ship crosses the Continental Divide via the MainDanube Canal to Nuremberg. Join a city tour of WWII highlights and then walk through Nuremberg's cobblestone streets to the Imperial Castle and 900-year-old city ramparts. Alternatively, you can taste your way through the city with a Franconian specialties tour, which introduces you to bratwurst, rotbier (red beer) and lebkuchen (gingerbread). Later, you can visit Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world's largest and most famous Christmas markets.